One of the foursomes golfing at this year's Bob Sinnote Open were (left to right) Dave and Cindy Gesme, Nancy Kasson and Rick Kaczmarczyk. (Contributed)
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Back on Aug. 25, the fourth annual Bob Sinotte Open was held at the Osakis Country Club.

A total of 64 golfers played in the fun event, but their scores were not as important as the cause — raising money for cancer research at the Mayo Clinic in honor of Sinotte, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2015.

Organizers recently finalized the proceeds from the event and it turns out that 2018 was the tournament's best year yet. They were able to raise $5,549 and with Mayo's match, the final result was an $11,098 donation, which raises the four-year total to $36,946.

But wait, there's more.

The tournament received a big surprise — a five-time match from Mayo that raised this year's contribution to $27,745. That puts the four-year total at $54,595.

"None of this happens without the help and generosity of many, starting with tournament directors Karen Sinotte, Julie Didier, Laurie Garcie and Karin Bangston," noted organizer Doug Walters.

"Cancer is a terrible disease that has probably affected all of our lives, so we are fighting back through research," Walters added. "Bob was a good friend and I think he would be pleased that people are having fun and raising money at the same time."

Al Edenloff is the news and opinion page editor for the Echo Press. He was born in Alexandria and lived most of his childhood in Parkers Prairie. He graduated with honors from Moorhead State University with a degree in mass communications, print journalism. He interned at the Echo Press in the summer of 1983 and was hired a year later as a sports reporter. He also worked as a news reporter/photographer. Al is a four-time winner of the Minnesota Newspaper Association's Herman Roe Award, which honors excellence in editorial writing.